Assembly toy and craft

ABSTRACT

An assembly toy and craft is provided which employs small components which are frictionally or adhesively assembled against a base to form picture compositions thereof. In one form, the components are made of injection molded rings or ring clusters or otherwise shaped small articles of substantially symmetrical shape which nest together and are employed to fill out or cover selected areas of the surface of the article to which they are attached for the purpose of composing a picture or decorating the article. Components of different colors are provided to make up a multi-colored surface decoration for an article or picture composing frame.

United States Patent [191 Lemelson Mar. 11, 1975 Primary Examiner-LouisG. Mancene Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Cutting [57] ABSTRACT Anassembly toy and craft is provided which employs small components whichare frictionally or adhesively assembled against a base to form picturecompositions thereof. in one form, the components are made of injectionmolded rings or ring clusters or otherwise shaped small articles ofsubstantially symmetrical shape which nest together and are employed tofill out or cover selected areas of the surface of the article to whichthey are attached for the purpose of composing a picture or decoratingthe article. Components of different colors are provided to make up amulti-colored surface decoration for an article or picture composingframe.

10 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures 1 ASSEMBLY TOY AND CRAFT [76] Inventor:Jerome H. Lemelson, 85 Rector St.,

Metuchen, NJ. 08840 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 395,410

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.223,148, Feb. 3,

1972, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl 46/17, 46/30, 46/37 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/06 [58] Field ofSearch 46/16, 17, 30, 37

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,137,967 6/1964 Flieth46/30 3,243,895 4/1966 Girard 46/17 3,594,940 7/1971 Yonezawa 46/16ASSEMBLY TOY AND CRAFT RELATED APPLICATIONS This is continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 223,148 filed Feb. 3, 1972, now abandoned, forAssembly Toy and Craft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and improvedstructures in assembly toys employing a multitude of small components ofdifferent color which are selectively assembled to a base sheet orotherwise shaped member to compose surface decorations or simulatedpictures thereof. In particular, the invention is concerned both withimprovements in the structures of surface decorating components, thearticles on which they are assembled for decorating the surface thereofand methods in which the components are secured to the articles andseparated as to color.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedassembly craft containing components which may be utilized to formdecorations on objects and simulated pictures on plaques whichdecorations or pictures are three-dimensional and attractive to look at.

Another object is to provide a surface-decorating craft containing aplurality of what appear to be small individual pieces assembled againsta surface but are actually preformed clusters of said pieces, therebygreatly simplifying assembly and reducing the task of forming surfacedecorations.

Another object is to provide improved structures in surface decoratingelements for use in crafts which structures are attractive and may beeasily molded of plastic.

Another object is to provide improved craft comprising a substrate andarea defining retaining means for a multitude of decorative componentsto be secured to the surface of the substrate.

With the above and such other objects in view as will hereinafter morefully appear, the invention consists of the novel constructions,combinations and arrangements of parts as will more fully appear fromthe accompanying drawings and specification, but it is to be understoodthat changes and modifications thereto may be effected without departingfrom the nature and spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an assembly toy or craft which is partiallycompleted and shows various features of the instant invention includinga substrate in the form of a plaque containing decorative elementssecured thereto;

FIG. 2 is a plan view ofa fragment ofa modified form of the plaque ofFIG. 1 showing certain surface decorating elements secured thereto;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a fragment of the plaque of FIG. 2 showingother types of surface decorating elements secured thereto;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fragment of a plurality of surface decoratingelements and a frame retaining same in edgewise abutment as applicableto the plaque of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a cluster of three surface decorating elementsformed together and applicable as a surface decorating element for aconstructional plaque of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another form of decorating element comprising acluster of seven rings formed into an integral molding and applicable tothe decorating plaque craft of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of another form of decorating element comprising acluster of nine rings formed together of a single molding and applicableto the plaque craft structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a fragment of the board of FIGS. 2 and 3showing modified form of surface decorating element frictionallyassembled therewith.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a circular array of ring-shaped decorationswhich are integrally molded in a ringshaped cluster and applicable tothe plaque craft of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view ofa fragment ofa board of the type shown in FIG.2, showing various elements frictionally assembled thereto;

FIG. 11 is an edge view in cross section of a board of the type shown inFIG. 10 showing one of the surface decorating elements frictionallysecured thereto;

FIG. 12 is an end view of the board of FIG. 1 showing surface decoratingelements in stacked assembly thereon;

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of surface decorating elementin the form of a hollow rectangle;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a modified form of surface decorating elementin the shape of a hollow triangle;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a modified form of surface decorating elementin the form of a plurality of integrally molded hollow triangles; 7

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a modified form of surface decorating elementin the shape of a hollow hexagonal shaped element;

FIG. 17' is a plan view of a cluster of spherical or short cylindricalelements applicable for forming surface decorations of the type shown inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 18 is a plan view of yet another form of surface decorating elementwhich is designed to edgewise nest with similar elements to decorate asurface therewith.

FIG. 19 is a face view of a modified form of the assembly toy and craftillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of one construction ofthe baseboard employed in the embodiment of FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary view in cross-section of another form of theconstruction of the structure in FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 is yet another form of construction of the structure shown inFIG. 19 and is also illustrated in fragmentary cross'section.

In FIG. 1 is shown an art assembly toy l0 composed of a base sheet 11made of paper, paperboard, plastic or metal or a laminate of suchmaterials. The base sheet 11 may also contain flocking on its outersurface 12 against which outer surface a plurality of art components maybe secured to form pictures, collages or the like.

Shown printed on the outer surface 12 of sheet 11 are a plurality ofoutlines 13 defining borders within which certain of the picture makingcomponents may be secured in accordance with indicia 13 provided withineach border such as a color dot, number or other visual indicator of thecomponent or components to be provided within the border. In otherwords, the lines 13 may be formed as a plurality of totally enclosedprinted configurations within the borders of each of which specificmaterials are to be assembled or cemented to form composite pictures andconstructions.

The components to be assembled within the confines of the printed areas13A defined by lines 13 printed on the surface 12 of the sheet 11,preferably include symmetrical plastic shapes such as small circularbuttons 14 which may be provided as single buttons or beads orsymmetrical arrays of same. The configurations also may comprise small,separate, short cylindrical formations or arrays of such formations asillustrated in FIGS. 5-7 and 9 of the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the small buttons 14 are cemented to the surface 12 with asuitable adhesive in closely spaced relationship, preferably such thatthey abut each other to totally fill the areas 13A in the color arraysindicated to form, for example, the petals and leaves of flowers orother configurations such as animals, fishes, figures, landscaperepresentations and the like. When totally filling the areas indicatedon the surface 12 by the indicia 13 in accordance with the requisitecolors, the effect is such as to generate pictures with the plasticmembers 14.

A second assembly technique is also illustrated in FIG. 1 which involvesproviding one or more fence-like plastic formations 16 either asseparate molded frames to be properly bonded to the surface 12 by theperson assembling the picture or as formations which are integrallymolded with the base sheet 11 by vacuum forming a sheet of plastic orinjection molding same. The frame 16 of FIG. 1 is shaped to represent aflower pot and it is noted that the same frame, other frame units orformations of sheet 11 may also extend to represent the borders of theillustrated flower stems and flower petals.

Once the frame or frames 16 have been properly adhesively bonded orotherwise secured to the base sheet 11, the plastic buttons or tubes 14may be either frictionally assembled within the areas 16' defined by theframes 16 or cemented therein. As part of the artwork the frames 16 maybe retained on the base sheet or removed thereafter leaving only theformations 14 in place.

FIG. 2 shows a first assembly technique for short sin gle tubularformations 14'. The base sheet 11 is shown provided with a multitude ofclosely spaced, substantially cylindrical pin-like proturbances 17formed in its upper surface which retain the cylindrical formations l4closely adjacent and preferably in contact with each other asillustrated. In a particular construction, the formations 17 may be sospaced and the dimensions of the short cylindrical formations 17 suchthat when said formations are pushed over adjacent proturbances 17, theywill frictionally engage the surfaces of adjacent formations 17 in sucha manner as to frictionally hold each other in place. In anotherconstruction, the proturbances 17 may be slightly tapered outwardly anddimensioned such that at least part of their outer surfaces willfrictionally engage the inside surfaces of the cylindrical formations l4frictionally holding them in place after they are pushed thereon by thecraftsman.

FIG. 3 a plurality of cylindrical formations 14" are shown eachfrictionally secured between surfaces of four ofthe pin-likeproturbances 17 and may each also be shaped to engage the surfaces ofadjacent cylindrical formations to frictionally retain same in place.

In FIG. 4, short cylindrical formations 14 are shown packed between thewalls 16w ofa frame 16 similar to frame 16 of FIG. 1. They may thus befrictionally retained in place if suitably disposed as illustrated. Theformations 14 may be made of a suitable deflectable plastic as may bethe walls 16w of the frame 16 to enhance the frictional retention of allcomponents together.

In FIG. 5, a unitary molding 18 is shown composed of three closelyspaced, short tubular formations 14 of the type illustrated in FIG. 1. Aplurality of assemblies 18 may be utilized and has one of the componentsof the assembly toy of FIG. 1 to reduce the amount of time and effortneeded to completely in the areas defined by indicia 13 or frame 16.

In FIG. 6, seven formations 14 are integrally molded together in anassembly 19 which will nest with other assemblies to fill in total areasas desired.

In FIG. 7, nine tubular formations 14 are integrally molded as a unitassembly 20 of substantially rectangular shape and may be utilized inthe assembly of art work of the type shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 8, a circular array of tubular formations 14' is provided as aunitary molding 21 which may be utilized as a components or componentsof the art toy of FIG. 1 and may abut similar formations adjacentthereto as well as being filled with a circular array of tubularcomponents 14 similar to those provided in the array 21 but perhaps of adifferent color.

In FIG. 9, a plurality of thin walled cylindrical picture components 22are each shown assembled around four of the proturbances 17 of the sheetsimilar to that shown in FIG. 2 and, in addition to possiblyfrictionally engaging the proturbances 17, they may also be configuredto externally frictionally engage each other to frictionally retain thecomponents in place on the base sheet 11.

In FIG. 10, several picture components are illustrated including firststrips 23 of extruded or molded plastic which are shown frictionallyengaged between two rows of protruding pin-like formations 17 formed inthe base sheet 11, which rows are two of a pluraltiy of such rowsextending across the base sheet. Also shown in FIG. 10 is a second stripformation 24 of plastic, metal or wood which extends diagonally betweenprotruding pin-like formations as illustrated and is preferablyfrictionally retained against the base sheet 11.

A further component 25 which is preferably an injection moldingcontaining one or more cylindrical formations 26 protruding from itsundersurface, is secured to the base sheet 11 by positioning and pushingthe component to dispose the formations or formations 26 between four ofthe protruding pin-like formations 17 on the sheet. While formation 26is shown as a solid projection it may also comprise a hollow cylindricalprojection, the interior surface of which is pushed over one protruding,pin-like formation 17 of the base sheet. FIG. 11 is a side view showingthe protrusion 26 from component 25 nested between adjacent pin-lineformations 17 of the base sheet 11.

In FIG. 12, a plurality of small cylindrical formations 14 or arraysthereof as illustrated in FIGS. 5-8, are shown cemented or otherwisesecured to a base sheet 11 as described, not only in a single layer butin a plurality of layers extending one above the other. These layers maybe so disposed as to provide three dimensional effects on the uppersurface 12 of sheet 11.

It is also noted that components such as 25 of FIG. 11, which maycomprise parts of art work forming a total picture or configuration onthe outer surface of the base sheet, may also be externally decorated bycementing components of the types provided in FIGS. 5-9 thereto or byfrictionally assembling such components on pin-like formations molded inthe outer surface of the component 25. Also the strips 23 and 24 of FIG.may comprise hollow rectangular or cylindrical tubing or bendable wires,flexible plastic rod or tubing or the like which may be bent into anydesired configuration along the surface of the base sheet.

FIG. 13 shows a rectangular hollow configuration 30 which may beutilized per se or in arrays thereof forming unitary moldings to beassembled to the base sheet as described either by adhesive bonding,frictional retention against suitable proturbances formed in the surfaceof the base sheet or by pin means extending through the triangularconfiguration.

FIG. 14 shows a triangular art unit 31 replacing the cylindrical unitshereinbefore described which may be utilized per se or in clustersforming unitary moldings which units or clusters may be bonded orfrictionally retained against the art base sheet.

FIG. shows a modified form of triangular decorative component 32 havingthree brace or filler strips 34 extending between adjacent walls 33 ofthe component.

FIG. 16 shows a six-sided art configuration 35 which may also beutilized per se or in unitary molded clusters as described to form artconfigurations by adhesively bonding or frictionally retaining same inassembly with a base sheet as described.

FIG. 17 shows another decorative configuration or component 36 in theshape ofa cluster of small spherelike formations 37 which are moldedtogether as a single unit and nest in peripheral surface abutment withsimilarly shaped units to fill a decorative area as described.

In FIG. 18 is shown another form of decorative component 38 having fourdovetailed portions 39 with indentations 40 between each two of suchportions into which the dovetailed portions of other similar componentsmay be made to nest to decorate a selected area of the surface of an artboard or figure as described herein.

FIG. 19 illustrates a modified form of the assembly toy and craft shownin FIG. 1. The assembly, denoted 40, is composed of a base sheet orboard 41 which may be made of any suitable material such as paperboard,wood, plastic, metal or laminates of these materials. The outer surface42 of board 41 may be of any suitable finish and color although the mostattractive finish therefor is one in which a black flocking material hasbeen applied for appearance purposes. Secured to or forming an integralmolding with board 41 is a frame 43 which protrudes outwardly fromsurface 42 and serves as a fence defining a plurality of separate anddistinct areas denoted 64-79 within each of which selected of the smallcomponents denoted 14 in FIG. 19 of respective colors may be assembledto, in effect, surface decorate and color the various confined areas forcomposing a most attractive picture thereof.

While board 41 is illustrated as a flat picture forming member, it isnoted that it may also be configured as a three-dimensional shape suchas that of a mock animal, figure, vehicle or building containing afence-like frame configuration protruding outwardly from the surfacethereof.

In FIG. 19, frame 43 is shown as composed of a por tion 44 defining area64 simulating the legs of the mock figure, portion 45 surrounding area65 defining the coat of the mock figure, frame portion 46 surroundingsurface area 66 defining the collar portion of the mock figure. Thesethree areas, 64, 65 and 66, may be filled in with small plasticcomponents of the same color, such as black or dark blue components, orof separate colors. Frame portions 47 and 49 define areas 67 and 69which simulate the arms of the mock figure and are preferably filled inwith small components having the same colors as those inserted into area65. Frame por- .tions 48 and 50 define areas 68 and 70 which simulatethe hands of the mock figure and are preferably filled in with smallcomponents 14 of pink color. Frame portion 51 defines facial area 71which is preferably filled in with small pink colored components. Frameportions 52 and 53 define areas 72 and 73 and are configured torepresent portions of the hair of the mock figure. These portions may befilled in with yellow, brown or black decorating components 14.

Frame portions 54 and 55 respectively denote areas 74 and 75 whichrepresent portions of the simulated hat of the mock figure decorationand are preferably filled in with the same colored small plasticcomponents. Frame portions 56 and 57 respectively denote areas 76 and 78and simulate the shoes of the mock fig ure.

Frame portion 58 surrounds an area 78 and is representative of anarticle carried by the mock figure such as a flower or plant. Alsoillustrated in FIG. 19 are certain portions or extensions of the frame43 which define solid portions of the surface decorations. Portion 83defines part of the left shoe of the mock figure and is a solidextension of the portion 56 of frame 43. Decorating portions 80, 81 and82 simulate respectively the eyes, nose and mouth of the mock figure andmay be either integrally molded against or with the surface of board 41or assembled and secured thereto by adhesive or other means from moldedcomponents.

Notations 84-94 respectively refer to indicia provided by printing ormolding against surface 42 which indicia indicates the colors of thesmall plastic components recommended to be assembled in the variousframe-separated areas 64-78 of the mock figure. For example, theseindicia may comprise small colored dots applied to the surface of theboard within the confined areas by printing or other suitable means.They may also comprise small letters or numbers which are printedor'integrally molded against the board 41.

In FIG. 20 is shown a first construction board and frame of FIG. 19. Theboard 41 is shown having the frame or frames 43A bonded to its uppersurface. The frame 43A may be made of molded plastic or die cast metal.It may be the same color as that of surface 42 or a color distincttherefrom.

In FIG. 21, the board 41 contains a tray-like formation 43B having sidewalls and a bottom wall 43C which is bonded or otherwise secured to theouter surface of board 41. The tray 43B may be molded of plastic andconfigured, in plan view, as shown in FIG. 19.

In FIG. 22, the board 41A is formed of a surface portion 418 which isintegrally molded with outwardly protruding rib formations 41R whichconform to the configuration of the frame 43 of FIG. 19 or any suitableconfiguration defining different confined areas adapted to receivedifferent colored small decorating components described.

It is noted that while the mock figure defined by frame 43 of FIG. 19 isshown as secured to or forming part of a baseboard 41 so as to permitthe user to form a picture-like structure, the border defining portionsof the frame may comprise the border of the base itself withoutproviding the frame on a rectangular board such as board 41. In otherwords, the toy may be composed of a fiat or three-dimensional basehaving a border contour configured to the contour of the mock figure,animal, vehicle or other shape adapted to be decorated by means of thedescribed small components.

I claim:

1. A constructional toy comprising:

a base,

a plurality of small decorative components of different colors adaptedto be selectively applied to different areas of said base whereincomponents of each color respectively cover different areas of said baseso as to decorate and differently color said different areas,

means for securing said components in a plurality of nesting arrays onsaid base, and

a fence-like structure protruding outwardly from the surface of saidbase and shaped to define a plurality of defined areas of said basesurface which defined areas are confined by respective portions of saidfence-like structure wherein decorative components of each color areassembled by color within each of said defined areas to compose athreedimensional surface decoration on said base.

2. A constructional toy in accordance with-claim 1 wherein saiddifferent areas defined by said fence-like structure are shaped torepresent different parts of a 8 picture display.

3. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 2 wherein said base isa flat, self-supporting sheet-like structure.

4. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 including colorindicating means associated with each of said different areas defined bysaid fence-like structure for indicating which of the different coloredsmall decorative components are to be assembled in each of said confinedareas.

5. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said smalldecorative components are composed of a plurality of small rings ofdifferent colors.

6. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said smalldecorative components are each composed of a cluster of ring-likeformations which are joined together.

7. A constructional toy in accordance with claim I wherein saidfence-like structure is integrally molded as part of said base.

8. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfence-like structure is separately formed from said base and is securedto the surface thereof.

9. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfence-like structure is composed of a frame defined by a plurality ofstrip-like formations which extend between and outer frame also formedof strip-like formations and are integrally secured together.

10. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 9 wherein said frameis integrally molded against a bottom wall portion which is secured tothe outer surface ofsaid base.

1. A constructional toy comprising: a base, a plurality of smalldecorative components of different colors adapted to be selectivelyapplied to different areas of said base wherein components of each colorrespectively cover different areas of said base so as to decorate anddifferently color said different areas, means for securing saidcomponents in a plurality of nesting arrays on said base, and afence-like structure protruding outwardly from the surface of said baseand shaped to define a plurality of defined areas of said base surfacewhich defined areas are confined by respective portions of saidfence-like structure wherein decorative components of each color areassembled by color within each of said defined areas to compose athree-dimensional surface decoration on said base.
 1. A constructionaltoy comprising: a base, a plurality of small decorative components ofdifferent colors adapted to be selectively applied to different areas ofsaid base wherein components of each color respectively cover differentareas of said base so as to decorate and differently color saiddifferent areas, means for securing said components in a plurality ofnesting arrays on said base, and a fence-like structure protrudingoutwardly from the surface of said base and shaped to define a pluralityof defined areas of said base surface which defined areas are confinedby respective portions of said fence-like structure wherein decorativecomponents of each color are assembled by color within each of saiddefined areas to compose a threedimensional surface decoration on saidbase.
 2. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein saiddifferent areas defined by said fence-like structure are shaped torepresent different parts of a picture display.
 3. A constructional toyin accordance with claim 2 wherein said base is a flat, self-supportingsheet-like structure.
 4. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1including color indicating means associated with each of said differentareas defined by said fence-like structure for indicating which of thedifferent colored small decorative components are to be assembled ineach of said confined areas.
 5. A constructional toy in accordance withclaim 1 wherein said small decorative components are composed of aplurality of small rings of different colors.
 6. A constructional toy inaccordance with claim 1 wherein said small decorative components areeach composed of a cluster of ring-like formations which are joinedtogether.
 7. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 whereinsaid fence-like structure is integrally molded as part of said base. 8.A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fence-likestructure is separately formed from said base and is secured to thesurface thereof.
 9. A constructional toy in accordance with claim 1wherein said fence-like structure is composed of a frame defined by aplurality of strip-like formations which extend between and outer framealso formed of strip-like formations and are integrally securedtogether.